Writing instrument



April 26, 1949- H. J. FAH'RINGER ETA. 2,468,258

' WRITING INSTRUMENT i 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Deo. 19, 1947 INVENToRs: Kerry .I J'z/lfz/fger .Br-A925 Oise?? T arlleys April 26, 1949 H. J.. FAHRINGER ETAL 2,468,258

WRITING INSTRUMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec, 19, 1947 H. J. FAHRINGER Erm.

April 26, 1949.

WRITING I'NSTRUMENT 5 Sheet-Sheet 5 Filed Deo. 19, 1947 Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES .PATENT l OFFICE amata warrmGms'raUMEs'r nam :..Fanrinm .naamw E. o

buchbar.

Ill., assignors to S. Buchsbaum a: Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation oi Illinois Application December 1s, 1941, sei-nu No. man

present invention relates to writing 111-.

struments of the type known as ball point pens.

s calm. (ci. 12o-42.12)

In this type of an instrument a small ball is rolled across the paper. Ink from a reservoir in the pen is deposited onto the ball and'is transf ferred by the ball onto the paper. The present invention is particularlycon-A cerned with 'a retractable point type of pen wherein the ball during use of the pen projects beyond the tapered end of the pen barrel, but

when not in use the ball is pulled baclr within the barrel so as to be protected thereby. The ball is mounted in the end of a cartridge and this cartridge is moved manually in a direction lengthwise of the barrel.v Means are provided for locking the cartridge when the ball point is in its writingposition projecting through the tapered end ofthe pen barrel.

The present invention is intended to provide a relatively simple writing instrument of a type wherein the ink contained in the barrel is fed by gravity onto the ball. When the supply of ink in the cartridge has become depleted it is intended that the cartridge may be quickly and simply removed from the pen barrel and replaced with a freshly loaded cartridge.

2 Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of thepen shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating the remaining two cartridges in.:the ir withdrawn or retracted position;

` Fig. ilv is a transverse sectional view taken The invention further contemplates a writing instrument of this sort wherein a plurality of cartridges can be employed in a single pen barrel, each cartridge containing a diierent color ink. For example, one cartridge can contain blue ink, another green ink, and-a third can contain red ink. The three cartridges can be selectively advanced to writing position in the pen barrel sdthat the operator can select one of the three colors at a time.

It is further contemplated that one Iof the cartridges may contain pencil lead instead of ink so that a writing instrument embodying the pres- -cnt invention may contain two or more cartridges. one of which will contain ink that is fed onto the ball socketed in one end of said cartridge and another cartridge may contain lead thatfeeds through the writing end of the cartr'iige. In this embodiment of,4 the invention the operator can selectively advance into writing position either the ink filled cartridge (in which case the instrument serves as a ball point pen) orthe lead illled cartridge (in which case the present writing instrument serves as a pencil).

.The foregoing constitute some of the principal objects of the present invention. others of which will become apparent from the following description and the drawings, in which Fig.V l is a top plan view of a writing instrument embodying the present invention illustrating one of the three cartridges disposed in writing position; l

through the cap of the writing instrument, the view .being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken throughthnpper end of the .writing instrument,

theviewbeingtakenonthe lineI-lof Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through the writing instrument, the View being taken on the line ll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the pen illustrated in Fig. 1, the view being taken on the line 8 6 of Fig.'1, a portion of the `pen being illustrated in elevation;

Fig. 'I is a fragmentary exploded sectional view corresponding to Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken through a portion of the casing illustrated in Fig. 'I'. the view being 'taken on the line 8-8 of Fig, '1;4 'Y

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through one of the cartridges illustrated in Fig. 6, a portion of the view being shown in elevation;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view through the cartridge, the portion shown being that portion of Fig. 9 bounded by the Varrows l0-I0, the ball being i1- lustratedin elevation;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken through a penlllustratinga second embodiment oi.4 the invention wherein a pencil cartridge is used in combination with one or more pen cartridges;

Fig. 12 is 'an enlarged sectional view through the pencil cartridge illustrated in Fig. 11, a portion of the view bdng shown in elevation; and

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional View taken through the pencil cartridge, the view being taken on the line -ll of Fig. 12.

For Dumme! of lillustration certain specific embodiments will be described herein, though it is recognised that many modiilcat'ions may be made without departing from theintended scope ofthe invention.

Referring to the drawings the writing instrument is illustrated at i5 and comprises generally -a hollow cylindrical barrel I6, hereinafter referred to as a pen barrel that is tapered at one end as at l'l and is openat both ends as at I8 and i9 (see Figs. 2 and '1). A cap 2li (Figs. 1, 2,

trough-shaped chambers indicated at 22a, 22h

and 22e in Fig. 5. 'I'hls partition member 2l as shown in Fig. 6 occupies only a portion of the length of the pen barrel I6 and is held in the barrel by friction. Acrown insert 23 is removably in the cylinder.

y lower end thereof.

ananas held in the pen barrel I6 at the open end I6 thereof and over the end of the partition member 2|. The crownfinsert23 is provided with an upstanding lugA 24 on its upper face so as to receive a pocket clip that is apertured at 26 to fit over the lug 24. The cap 23 slides over the projecting portion of the crown insert 23 and is slotted at 21 to receive the pocket clip 2,5 that passes therethrough. A clipjspacer 26 rests against the upper inner face of the cap 23 and is provided with a passage 26 along the central axis thereof so as to receive the lug 24 that projects through the aperture 26 in the pocketk clip 25'and into the passage 23.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the'barrel I6 is adapted to house one or more cartridges generally indicated at 30. In the embodiment illustratedk been used up, such depleted cartridge can be -replaced by simply rst removing the pen cap mounted. A ball 35 is rotatably mounted in a socket 36 in the free end of the point member 33. An ink passage 31 extends from the socket- 36 longitudinally throughout the remainder of the point member 33. The nozzle 32 is provided with a longitudinal passage 36 that extends throughout the length of the nozzle and provides communication between the interior of theink unit case 3| and the passage 31. The ink unit case 3| is filled with a supply of ink indicated at 39 in Fig. 9. The upper end of the ink unit caseI 3| is crimped as at 40 to hold one end of an operating spring 4|. This operating spring 4I is bent over and is provided at its opposite end with an operating button 42. When assembled these parts comprise a cartridge as referred to herein. Directly adjacent the ink case 3|, the spring 4| has a pair of oppositely extending integral ears 4Ia which are angularly disposed with respect to the plane of the body of the spring 4| and project laterally therefrom nsuch fashion that they engage the partition wall on each side of the case 3| and cooperate with said partition wall to guide the ink unit case in its movements Thus guided, the cartridge is centrally located in the trough and the insertion of the unitinto the barrel is greatly facilitated. This construction permits the button 42 to be guided into the barrel I6 while it is maintained in alignment with the slot 43, whereupon, on assembly or replacement of a cartridge, the button 42 readily enters the slot 43 with a minimum amount of manipulation.

As best' shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the barrel I6 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots 43, each of which has a locking portion 44 at the The operating button 42 on the operating spring 4| is adapted to project through the slot 43 and is slidable lengthwise therein. Each operating button 42 is provided with an enlarged locking shoulder 45 that enters the locking portion 44 (see Fig. l) at the bottom of the corresponding slot 43 so as to lock the cartridge in the position wherethe point 33 projects through the lower open end I3 of the barrel I6.

In the first embodiment of the invention there I are three cartridges contained within the pen barrel I6. One of these cartridges may contain 4 a blue ink. another a green ink, and the third red ink. The user ofthe pen may then select which color he wishes to use at a particular time by merely manipulating the operating button 42 so as to slide the selected cartridge 30 into the operative position illustrated in Fig. 1 where the point 33 projects through the opening I6 at the tapered end of the pen barrel. Another color may be selected by tlrst applying pressure against the operating button 42 so as to retract the locking shoulder 46 from the enlarged portion 44 and then moving the operating button 42 upwardly in the slot 43 to its uppermost position. This clears the way for another one of the cartridges 30 to be advanced to operating position. When the pen is not in use all of the cartridges can be raised to their uppermost position so that none of the point members 33 project through the open end I3 of the pen barrel I6.

When the ink in any of the cartridges has 20 from the barrel and then pushing the operat ing'button 42 to the uppermost position in its slot 43. In this condition the upper end of the operating spring 4I projects through the upper open end`of the pen barrel I6 so that the operating spring 4I may begrasped for removal of the cartridge. The operating spring is squeezed so -as to retract the operating button 42 from its slot 43 and then the cartridge may be simply withdrawn from the upper end of the pen barrel I6 and anew one inserted in its place.

A band of coloris provided on the point member 33 corresponding to the color of the ink contained' in the cartridge so that when the point member 33 projects through the opening vI 8 of the pen barrel I6 the color band will be exposed so as to indicate the color of the ink in that'cartridge.

Referring now to Figs. l1 to 13 inclusive a second embodiment ofthe invention is shown wherein the writing instrument serves'both as a pencil and as a pen.

In this form of the invention a pencil cartridge generally indicated at 41 is disposed in the cylindrical barrel I6 in place of one of the pen cartridges described in connection with the rst embodiment of :the invention. 'I'his pencil cartridge 41 comprises a casing 48 that is crimped at the top as at 43 to hold one of the operating springs 4 Ipreviously described in connection with the pen cartridge 30 illustrated in Fig. 9. This casing 46 is open l--at the bottom Ito receive an adjustable lead assembly generally indicated at 50. This assembly 50 comprises an inner sleeve 5I that can be inserted within the cartridge casing 46 and a point portion 52 that telescopes over the lower end of the sleeve 5|. The upper'end of the sleeve 5I is provided with a reduced or neck portion 53 that is threaded to receive a threaded lead advancing member 54. This advancing member 54 upon rotation in the sleeve 5I can be advanced or retracted toward or away from the point end 52 of the cartridge. Pencil lead 55 is held in :the point end 52 of the lead assembly and is` adapted to be backed by the advancing member 54.

As best shown in Figs. 12 land 13 the walls of the casing 46 throughout substantially the upper half of the casing are crimped as at 56 so as to provide a plurality of grooves or slots 51 that are disposed ninety degrees apart and extend in a longitudinal direction with respect to the casing 46. A follower member 56 is provided at the upper end of the lead advancing member 5I and this -follower member is adapted vto extend between two of the diametrically opposite grooves 51 so as to be held against rotation by these grooves. The point portion 52 is ilxed with re- Spect to the sleeve 5| so that by rotating the point portion 52 the sleeve 5| is caused to rotate about the fixed advancing member 54. Thus the sleeve 5| is caused to ride up and down on the advancing member 54 so as to advance or permit retraction of the lead 55 in the point portion 52. The lead assembly 50 can be withdrawn from the casing 48 by merely pulling the assembly out from the bottom opening in the casing.

The pencil cartridge 41 is held in place-in the barrel I E in the manner .previously described with respect tothe pen cartridge in connection with Fig. 6. The pencil can be advanced and retracted by manipulation of the operating button 42 as lpreviously described and the withdrawal 'of the pencil cartridge from the barrel I 6 is effected through the top of. the barrel in the same manner as previously described with respect to the first embodiment of the invention.

Thus there is provided in connection with this second embodiment of the invention a combination pencil and pen wherein a pencil cartridge and one or two pen cartridges can al1 be housed within one barrel i6. All of rthese cartridges are advanced through a common opening in the barrel.

This application constitutes a continuation in .part of the applicants copending application, Serial No. 723,770, iiled January 23, 1947 for Writing instruments. This case has become abandoned.

We claim:

1. In a multicolor writing instrument, a barrel having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots spaced about the circumference thereof, a partition member within the barrel dividing same into a plurality of longitudinal trough-shaped chambers, each slot opening into achamber, at least one of said chambers having a cartridge containing a writing medium and a writing point,

said cartridge being slidable -in said chamber, said cartridge hav-ing a resilientv stem secured in one end thereof and an arm 4integraI with said stem, said arm being bent upon itself so as to extend toward the writing end of the cartridge and being resiliently urged outwardly, with an operating button on said arm extending through the ad- .iacent slot in the barrel to provide means for controlling the movements of said cartridge in said barrel, and guide means integral with and extending laterally from said stem, said guide means being slidable in said chamber and conforming -in shape to, and cooperating with, the trough-shaped lpartition wall for guiding said cartridge in said chamber and to keep said button aligned in` said slot.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said guide means comprises ears extending laterally from each side of said stem, said ears being angularly disposed with respect to said stem, and arranged to lie against the walls of the troughshaped partition.

3. A device according .to claim 1 in which said stem comprises a leaf spring and said guide means comprises resilient ears integral therewith and extending laterally from each side of said stem, said ears being dis-posed on said stem directly adjacent said cartridge and resi-liently adjusting themselves to the walls of the trough-shaped parbiition.

HARRY J. FAHRINGER. BRUCE E. OLSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

